Detachable foot support for ladders



Oct. 4, 1966 B. KANOZA DETACHABLE FOOT SUPPORT FOR LADDER$ Filed Oct.15, 1964 IN VEN TOR.

BERNARD KANOZA I M1 M67 HIS ATTORNEY FIG. 2

United States Patent 3,276,543 DETACHABLE FQOT SUPPORT FOR LADDERSBernard Kanoza, 655 Woodward Ave., McKees Rocks, Pa. Filed Oct. 15,1964. Ser. No. 404,054 3 Claims. (Cl. 182122) This invention relates tofoot supports for ladders, and more particularly to improved footsupports for ladders having round rungs.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means forconverting the round rungs of a conventional ladder to flat steps which,as is known, are more comfortable and more safe to stand on than are theround rungs. Hence, a person is able to stand on the converted ladderfor longer periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved foot supportwhich is considerably more easily detached and hence, easily moved toany desired level on the ladder.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved footsupport wherein at least two flat steps are employed whereby a personmay position himself at any of two levels on the ladder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved foot supporthaving flat rungs which are inclined relative to the side rails of aladder on which they are employed so as to promote positioning of theladder at a safe ladder angle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved footsupport having means for adjusting the width of the foot support tocorrespond to the width of the ladder upon which it is used and whichfirmly secures the foot support to the ladder thereby preventingmovement of the foot support laterally of the ladder.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved laddersupport which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture; which isrelatively light in weight thereby easily moved, attached to or detachedfrom the ladder; and which is of rugged construction thereby capable ofwithstanding rough usage.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improvedfoot support for converting the round rungs of a conventional ladder tofiat steps. The foot support comprises a pair of side plates betweenwhich is secured a plurality of spaced plate means. The plate meansextend transversely between the side plates and provide flat supportingsurfaces upon which a person may stand comfortably. Each of the platemeans preferably are inclined upwardly so that the angle between theplate means and the front edges of the side plates above the plate meansis about 70. The inclination of the plate means is such that when placedon a ladder and positioned substantially parallel with the laddersupporting surface, the ladder will be inclined at what is considered tobe a safe ladder angle. Hence, the present foot support promotespositioning of the ladder at a safe ladder angle.

Slot means are provided in the side plates below each end of each platemeans. The slot means preferably have their uppermost edge flush withthe lower face of the adjacent plate means, the arrangement being suchthat each plate means will be in line contact with a rung along itsentire length. Hence, the slot means cooperate in pairs to receive arung of a conventional ladder. The foot support preferably is supportedby at least two rungs of the ladder upon which it is placed.

Means also is provided for adjusting the width of the foot support tocorrespond to the width of the ladder upon which it is placed. Thismeans also provides for firmly securing the foot support in position onthe ladder so as to prevent lateral movement of the foot supportrelative to the ladder.

The present foot support preferably is fabricated from aluminum so as tobe relatively lightweight and is of an all welded construction.Alternatively, the present foot support may be fabricated from anysuitable materials of construction, such as, steel, wood or suitableplastic materials.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view illustrating a ladder having round rungson which is provided the foot support of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the present foot support shown mounted on theladder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IIIIII, furtherillustrating the present foot support;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating slot meansprovided in the present foot support;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4,illustrating an alternative embodiment of the slot means; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view, with portions cut away to showdetails, illustrating a means for adjusting the width of the presentfoot support.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a conventional ladder 10composed of a pair of side rails 12 and spaced round rungs 14. Theladder 10 is shown resting on a supporting surface 16, such as theground or the like, and leaning against a. vertical surface 18, such asthe wall of a building or the like. The angle between the side rails 12and the supporting surface 16 is indicated at A and preferably comprisesabout 70. This angle is considered to be a safe ladder angle.

Mounted near the top of the ladder It] is the foot support 20 of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the foot support 20 comprises sideplates 22 and a plurality of plate means 24 which extend transverselybetween the side plates 22 and are secured at each of their ends to theside plates 22 preferably by means of welding. Although not illustrated,the upper surface of each of the plate means 24. may be provided with anon-skid surfacing as is conventional. Diagonal brace members 26 securedto the plate means 24 and the side plates 22 provide reinforcement forthe plate means 24.

In FIG. 2, there is illustrated in dash-dot outline, an extension of thefoot support 20 to include an additional plate means 24. The footsupport 20, thus may be fabricated with more than two of the plate means24 each functioning to provide a flat step.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the side plates 22 each is provided withslot means 28 to be hereinafter more fully described, which cooperate inpairs to receive a rung 14 of the ladder it). The foot support 20 of thepresent invention preferably is supported by at least two of the rungs14- of the ladder 10. I

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the foot support 20 is providedwith adjustment means 30, preferably in the form of bolts 32, foradjusting the width of the foot support to correspond to the width ofthe ladder 10. The adjustment means 30 also provides for firmly securingthe foot support 20 in position on the ladder 10 thereby preventinglateral movement of the foot support 20 with respect to the ladder 10.

Plate Means 24 Referring now, in particular to FIG. 3, the plate means24 preferably comprises a generally rectangular plate whose uppersurface 34 provide fiat supporting surfaces upon which a person maystand comfortably. Furthermore, the upper surface 34 may be providedwith a non-skid surface as is conventional with step-type ladders. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, each of the plate means 24 are inclined. That isto say, the angle, indicated at A, between the upper surface 34 of theplate means 24 and the front edge 36 of the side plates 22 above theplate means 34 is approximately 70. Hence, when the present foot support20 is placed on the ladder 10, the person using the ladder normally willincline the ladder so that the plate means 24 are horizontal andgenerally parallel to the supporting surface 16. Thus, the inclinationof the plate means 24 promotes the placing of the ladder 10 at a safeladder angle.

Adjustment means 30 Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, each of theadjustment means 30 preferably comprises, as stated above, a bolt 32which is threaded in an opening 38 provided in the side plate 22. Thehead of the bolt 32 preferably resides in the region between the sideplates 22 so that it may easily be reached for turning the same and soas to not increase the width of the foot support beyond the outer facesof the side plates 22. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the bolts 32preferably are positioned in pairs and are coaxially aligned. Thisarrangement is preferred so as to prevent force couples which wouldarise in the event the opposed bolts 32 were not coaxially aligned. Itis preferred that one of the bolts 32 be provided on each of the sideplates 22 in order that the foot support 20 may be centered between theside rails 12. However, it should be noted that it is within the scopeof the present invention that the bolts 32 be provided only on one ofthe side plates 22 so that when the bolts 32 are moved outwardly towardthe side rails 12 the opposite side plate 22 will be displaced intosurface engagement with the adjacent side rail 12 of the ladder 10. Ascan be seen in FIG. 6, the outboard end 40 of the bolt 32 will be movedinto engagement with the inner face of the side rail 12.

Slot means 28 Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, and in particular to FIG.4, the slot means 28 comprises a generally U-shaped inclined slot 42which is cut in the side plate 22 as to have a rung receiving opening 44in the rear edge 46 of the side plate 22. The slot 42 is inclinedupwardly toward the plate means 24 and has an upper peripheral edge 48which preferably is semicircular so as to correspond to the round rung14 illustrated in dash-dot outline.

The slot 42 preferably extends upwardly at least to the level of thelower face 50 of the plate means 24 so that, as illustrated in FIGA, theupper peripheral edge 48 will be tangent at point 52, with the lowerface 50 of the plate means 24. This is desirable since the lower face 50now will be in line contact with the rung 14 along the entire length ofthe plate means 24. It should be evident that now the full weight of aperson standing on the foot support 20 will be supported by both therungs 14 with which the foot support 20 is engaged. Hence, a personsweight is distributed among a plurality of the rungs 14 rather thanbeing supported on one rung as is conventional.

It will be noted in FIGS. 3 and 4, that the rung receiving openings 44of the slot means 28 are below the plate means 24 and the rung 14.Hence, in the event the bolts 32 are not tightened down, the footsupport 20 is not likely to become detached from the rungs 14 since thefoot support 20 must be purposely elevated in order that the rungs 14may pass out through the rung receiving openings 44 of the slot means28.

The slot means of the present foot support 20 may take the alternativeconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein corresponding numerals willbe employed to identify corresponding parts already described. AS can beseen in FIG. 5, the side plate 22 is provided with slot means 54composed of a first portion 56 which extends perpendicularly from theplate means 24 and a communicating second portion 58 which is angledwith respect to the first portion 56 and which extends perpendicularlytoward the rear edge 46 of the side plate 22. The first portion 56includes the peripheral edge 48 and is tangent at a point 52 to thelower face 54) of the plate means 24. Inadvertent detachment of the footsupport 20 from the rungs 14 of the ladder 10 is again prevented sincethe foot support 20 must be purposely elevated in order that the rungs14 may pass out through the rung receiving openings 44 of the slot means54.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with certainspecific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may bemade to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foot support for a ladder composed of a pair of parallel side railsand spaced round rungs, comprising: spaced side plates, a plurality ofspaced plate means extending between and secured to said side plates forproviding fiat supporting surfaces; the depth of said side plates andsaid spaced plate means being substantially equal to the depth of saidparallel side rails; and slot means, one each formed in each of saidside plates below the level of each of said plate means for receiving arung of said ladder, each of said slot means being inclined from therear edge of the side plate upwardly toward the plate means andterminating at least at the level of the lower face of said plate meansand centrally thereof whereby each plate means is in line contact with arung of the ladder; said foot support being supported by at least two ofthe rungs of said ladder.

2. The foot support of claim 1 including bolts carried -by said sideplates and engageable with the side rails of said ladder for preventingmovement of said foot support laterally of said ladder, said bolts beingpositioned in close proximity to the lower face of said spaced platemeans.

3. A ladder attachment for a ladder composed of a pair of parallel siderails and spaced round rungs, comprising: spaced side plates; at leasttwo spaced plate means extending between and secured to said side platesfor providing flat supporting surfaces; the depth of said side platesand said spaced plate means being substantially equal to the depth ofsaid parallel side rails; slot means, one each formed in each of saidside plates below the level of each of said plate means for receiving arung of said ladder, each of said slot means being inclined from therear edge of the side plate upwardly toward the plate means andterminating at at least the level of the lower face of the plate meansand centrally thereof whereby each plate means is in line contact with arung of the ladder; said ladder attachment being supported by at leasttwo rungs of said ladder; and at least two bolts, one each extendingthrough and threadedly engaged with each of said side plates, said boltsbeing movable laterally of said side plates into engagement with theside rails of said ladder whereby said ladder attachment is preventedfrom moving laterally of said ladder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 62,314 2/1867Burt l82l21 1,960,863 5/1934 Boyer 182228 X 2,876,047 3/1959 La Plantel8212l X 2,948,349 8/1960 Reddy 182-4121 3,067,836 12/1962 Carnicelli182-421 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

1. A FOOT SUPPORT FOR A LADDER COMPOSED OF A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE RAILSAND SPACED ROUND RUNGS, COMPRISING: SPACED SIDE PLATES, A PLURALITY OFSPACED PLATE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID SIDE PLATES FORPROVIDING FLAT SUPPORTING SURFACES; THE DEPTH OF SAID SIDE PLATES ANDSAID SPACED PLATE MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DEPTH OF SAIDPARALLEL SIDE RAILS; AND SLOT MEANS, ONE EACH FORMED IN EACH OF SAIDSIDE PLATES BELOW THE LEVEL OF EACH OF SAID PLATE MEANS FOR RECEIVING ARUNG OF SAID LADDER, EACH OF SAID SLOT MEANS BEING INCLINED FROM THEREAR EDGE OF THE SIDE PLATE UPWARDLY TOWARD THE PLATE MEANS ANDTERMINATING AT LEAST AT THE LEVEL OF THE LOWER